Page 55 of Broken By the Bad Boy

“Benny, I’m right here, you know? How can you possibly be missing me?” Ben’s frown turns to a scowl. Every cell in my body wants me to listen to him. We won’t see each other until break, so these little moments are precious. Ben glares. “Okay. I got you something, but I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be, Gracie.” My lips pull into a thin line. “I love you, so I’ll love whatever you give me.”

His words loosen the knots in my belly. I hand over the red wristwatch case to him and wait. Ben inspects it without collecting it, and my heart lurches. He hates it. He didn’t even open it.

My heart sinks to my belly as I stare at my feet. I clear my throat. “It’s fine if you don’t like it.”

Ben wrenches the case open, and the note inside falls out. He picks it up. His expression changes when he reads the silly note I penned for him. It simply says:Little Miss loves Benny.We might be going too fast like Maria and Hayden said, but it works for us. I squeeze my shoulders together while he tries on his new wristwatch. He smiles at it, then raises his hand for me to see.

It looks good on him. “You like?”

Ben scoffs. “Like? I love it.” My lips stretch into a big smile. His head pokes outside the car. He curves his hands around his mouth and screams, “My Gracie bought me a wristwatch.” I giggle, and he throws me a pointed look. “Now, will you please sit on my legs so I can properly thank you?”

My laughter reverberates in the air, and my head bobs. Of course, I will. He’s my Benny.

Twenty-Six

The boys are arguingabout their football team. Again. It started as we were about to enter the cafeteria. Ben’s team must have lost because he’s the most aggravated. We have our trays in front of us, but they are still arguing. The girls look bored as hell, me included. Liam’s girlfriend yawns for the third time.

“You okay, babe?” Liam asks her.

“Yeah.”

Lies. We are bored. We keep sharing glances each time the boys start on about a player from their team. I’m beginning to think joining Ben at his table is a horrible idea. We always eat at my table. Since Maria is gone, it’s just us. I like it. But I don’t want to be the girlfriend who keeps her boyfriend from his friends.

“You are not eating,” Ben says. A hand cups my face, and my cheeks grow warm as his friends stare at us. I shift on his lap, and my legs dangle over his. His free hand slips to my waist to keep me from swaying too much. He smirks, fully aware of his effect on me. “Babe. Eat your lunch.”

Olivia lifts a carved brow, and I hide my face in Ben’s shoulder. The downside of sitting at Ben’s table is tolerating her. We are good as long as she’s on the other side of the table. She and Noah. But I’m cool with Noah. He’s okay. Ben laughs at my newly found shyness while stroking my back.

I sit up. Meeting Ben’s gaze, I take a big bite of my burger, and he grins in approval. He’s so easy to please.

Christine, I think that’s her name, Liam’s girlfriend, giggles. “You guys are so cute.”

“Oh, yeah?” Ben says, using one hand to steal fries from my plate. He got his, but it’s finished. Because I’m an awesome girlfriend, I push the plate closer to him. “I think Gracie is cuter.”

Christine nods. “I agree.”

She’s the friendliest among the girls. Olivia and her minions have barely spoken a word since I sat. Noah is being Noah. Making jokes that have everyone cracking up.

I fight the smile spreading to my lips. Christine is pretty, like Olivia’s level of pretty. Tall with a curvy body, long blond hair, a flawless face, and a cheerleader. Unlike Olivia, she barely uses makeup. And she’s nice.

From my side view, I catch Olivia glaring at me. I hate her too. When our eyes meet, she looks away and stabs her lettuce. Poor salad. Noah wraps his arm around her shoulders and whispers something into her ear that makes her smile. He lifts his head to me and winks. In return, I make a gagging face.

Ben doesn’t notice our odd exchange as he begins another argument. My friendship with Noah is largely influenced by the knowledge of his past and part guilt for thinking the worst of him. Does Olivia also know about that? Is that why she hangs out with him? Noah is not the kind of person I would befriend on a regular day. If he told the truth in his letters, then he is not dating Olivia.

The reminder makes me grin. When Olivia scowls, I stick out my tongue. She’s so lonely. No one wants her.

Minutes later, we exit the cafeteria. Ben slings an arm around my shoulders, and I slide mine around his waist. He walks me to the front of my class and opens the door. I locate my seat, and he takes the one beside it.

“You were so quiet during lunch,” he says.

Resting his head on the desk, he smiles. I mimic his position. We have five minutes until my next class.

“It was a bit overwhelming.” His brows furrow, and I lick my lips. “They are cool people,” I say to make him feel better. They were all chill, minus the queen bitch and her minions. “I like them.”

“I like that you like them. Thanks, babe.” I give his hand a small squeeze. I want to do more for him because he appreciates the little things. Ben is that person you want to always please. We sit in comfortable silence, smiling at each other. I love this boy. “It’s exactly one week from today.”

A weight crushes my chest. Our first fight is next week Friday. 8 pm. If my parents don’t change their mind, we will leave the next day, Saturday morning. I overheard them talking about it last night. These days, all I do is eavesdrop on their conversation and pray for a change of heart.

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